1 Corinthians 14

1 Pursue love and be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy.

2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. For no one understands him because he speaks hidden things in the Spirit.

For he, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no one understandeth, though in spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people to build them up, to encourage them, and to comfort them.

But he, that prophesieth, speaketh edification, and exhortation, and comfort to men.

4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

He, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he, that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues. But even more than that, I wish that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues (unless someone interprets so that the church may be built up).

I could wish that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you? I cannot, unless I speak to you with revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching.

Now, my brethren, if I come to you speaking with many tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak intelligibly to you of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or doctrine?

7 If lifeless instruments are producing sounds—like the flute or the harp—and they do not produce different tones, how will anyone know what tune the flute or harp is playing?

As inanimate things which give a found, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall what is piped or harped be understood?

8 For if the trumpet is played with an uncertain sound, how will anyone know when it is time to prepare for battle?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?

9 So it is with you. If you utter speech that is unintelligible, how will anyone understand what you have said? You will be speaking, and no one will understand you.

So also unless ye utter by the tongue intelligible words, how shall what is spoken be understood? for thus ye will be only talking to the wind.

10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning.

There are, it may be, as many kinds of voices in the world as people, and none of them insignificant.

11 But if I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

But if I know not the force of the words, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian to me.

12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for the manifestations of the Spirit, try to excel in the gifts that build up the church.

So ye also, since ye are so desirous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them to the edification of the church.

13 So the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

Wherefore let him, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prayeth, but my meaning is fruitless.

15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, and I will also sing with my mind.

What is then to be done? I will pray with the Spirit, but I will pray to be understood: I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing to be understood.

16 Otherwise, if you praise God with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” when you are giving thanks if he does not know what you are saying?

For if thou bless in the spirit, how shall the unlearned say Amen to thy thanksgiving, when he knoweth not what thou sayst?

17 For you certainly give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.

thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all.

19 But in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding so that I might instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

But in a public assembly I had rather speak five words to be understood, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Rather, in regard to evil, be like infants. But in your thinking be mature.

My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men.

21 In the law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Even then they will not hear me,” says the Lord.

It is written in the law, "By men of another language, and by other lips, will I speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, saith the Lord."

22 So then, tongues are a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. But prophesying is for a sign, not for unbelievers, but for believers.

So that tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecy not to unbelievers but to those that believe.

23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders and unbelievers come in, would they not say that you are insane?

If then the whole church be come together and all speak in unknown tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if you all were prophesying and an unbeliever or an outsider came in, he would be convicted by all he hears. He would be judged by all that is said.

But if all prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all.

25 The secrets of his heart would be revealed. As a result, he would fall on his face and worship God. He would declare that God is really among you.

And thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest; so that falling down upon his face he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed among you.

26 What is next then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Do everything so that you build up the church.

What is then to be done, my brethren? when ye come together, if any of you hath a psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, ---let all be done for edification.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at most three, and each one in turn, then someone should interpret what is said.

And if any one speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and that by turns; and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in the church. Let each one speak to himself alone and to God.

But if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly; and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others listen with discernment to what is said.

And let but two or three of the prophets speak, and the others judge.

30 But if an insight is given to one who is sitting in the service, let the one who had been speaking be silent.

And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.

31 For each of you can prophesy one by one so that each one may learn and all may be encouraged.

For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 For the spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets.

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets:

33 For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. This is the rule in all the churches of the saints.

for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all the assemblies of the saints.

34 The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak. Instead, they should be in submission, as also the law says.

Let your women be silent in your assemblies: for it is not permitted to them to speak, but they are to be in subjection, as the law saith.

35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

And if they would learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it does not become women to speak in a public assembly.

36 Did the word of God come from you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

Did the word of God come out first from you? or did it come to you only?

37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I write to you are a command of the Lord.

If any one seem to be a prophet, or acted by the Spirit, let him acknowlege that what I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if anyone does not recognize this, let him not be recognized.

But if any will be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 So then, brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.

Wherefore, my brethren, be most desirous to prophesy, and yet forbid not to speak with tongues:

40 But let all things be done properly and in order.

but let all things be done decently and in order.